Proper way to detect that a UWP app is running on a small-screen device (phone)

Question

Having read about this, I feel there is still an un-answered question about detecting whether a UWP app is running on a device where it would be appropriate to display in portrait only.

The optimal page layouts for our UWP app are such that on a phone, it's best that we disable landscape mode (we don't need such a restriction for larger format devices). What would be the best-practice approach to accomplish this?

Kind of backwards isn't it? The smaller the screen, the easier it is to turn. Use the DisplayInformation class. — Hans Passant, Oct 13 '15 at 16:55

score 17 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 26 '16 at 07:35

17

You can detect the device family using AnalyticsInfo.VersionInfo.DeviceFamily.

if(AnalyticsInfo.VersionInfo.DeviceFamily == "Windows.Mobile") {
    // It's a phone
}
else {
    // It's not a phone
}

answered Apr 26 '16 at 07:35

yadejo

1,910
15
26

Simple and efficient method. +1. – Reynevan Oct 19 '16 at 20:14

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 13 '15 at 23:57

1

 if ((Window.Current.Bounds.Width < 640) && (Window.Current.Bounds.Height < 550))
                {
                          //Do something
                }

Best of luck .

answered Oct 13 '15 at 23:57

user2243952

277
3
6
12

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 14 '15 at 00:06

You can also test with hardware buttons availability , but not every phone has them !

public  Platform DetectPlatform()
        {
            bool isHardwareButtonsAPIPresent = ApiInformation.IsTypePresent("Windows.Phone.UI.Input.HardwareButtons");

            if (isHardwareButtonsAPIPresent)
            {
                return Platform.WindowsPhone;
            }
            else
            {
                return Platform.Windows;
            }
        }

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 13 '15 at 16:13

0

You can check for the hardware back button. Windows.Foundation.Metadata.ApiInformation.IsTypePresent("Windows.Phone.UI.Input.HardwareButtons")

answered Oct 13 '15 at 16:13

Ken Tucker

4,126
1
18
24

what is the surface tablet in this case? Phone or Desktop? – Emil Feb 06 '19 at 00:17

Proper way to detect that a UWP app is running on a small-screen device (phone)

4 Answers4